The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens came into Sunday’s game as surprisingly 1-2 teams who were both still eyeing runs at contention. It turns out only one of those teams was right.
The Chiefs took advantage of a seriously depleted Ravens roster with a shocking 37-20 final score on Sunday, aided by both a strong defensive showing and a return to the offensive fireworks that had been missing for quite some time.
It’s hard to complain about anything following a 17-point victory, which is why we’ve (mostly) got nothing but studs
Stud: Patrick Mahomes
The last time Patrick Mahomes had four passing touchdowns came against the Chargers on October 22, 2023. Before that, it was November 13, 2022 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Suffice it to say, it’s been a long time since Chiefs Kingdom has enjoyed the sort of heroic production put up by Andy Reid’s offense.
Mahomes was a man on fire on Sunday, showing off incredible touch and tremendous zip. He was smart with the ball and had impressive instincts. There were a couple of misfires deep, but receivers also dropped a couple of easy passes. Overall, Mahomes looked every bit like the all-time great that he is, and Chiefs fans are thrilled to know the best is yet to come with Worthy’s return and Rashee Rice on deck.
Stud: Xavier Worthy
It turns out that missing your most dynamic deep threat is a big deal.
In all seriousness, everyone in Chiefs Kingdom knew that Xavier Worthy in his second season was going to be something special after watching him dominate down the stretch for the Chiefs in 2024. Last year’s first-round pick was becoming a trusted target in all aspects of the passing attack by season’s end, but the noise was swallowed up by the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss.
After missing the first three games of the season with a torn labrum, Worthy returned in Week 4 and picked right up where he left off. The final totals: 5 catches for 83 receiving yards and 2 carries for 38 rushing yards. Plus, his presence opened up the offense for others, and Patrick Mahomes dealt like he hadn’t all season.
Stud: Steve Spagnuolo
Steve Spagnuolo has been in his bag all season, which has helped the Chiefs stay competitive while the offense sputtered early. On Sunday, Spags once again called a masterful game with a defense that locked down Lamar Jackson and company after watching the Ravens score a touchdown on their first drive.
Jackson had his first two turnovers of the season in the first half, which allowed K.C. to take a double-digit lead into halftime. From there, the Chiefs offense applied continuous pressure and Spags kept the Ravens at bay with constant pressure. The defense isn’t perfect, but Spags knows how to employ his players so well.
Dud: Harrison Butker
It feels bad to pile on Harrison Butker in a game in which he scored 13 points. Butker finished the day by successfully converting 3 of 4 field goal attempts. He also hit 4 extra points. However, a missed 56-yard attempt near the end of the first half allowed the Ravens to score a field goal of their own before halftime by giving Baltimore such good field position.
The truth is that something looks off with Butker, who has missed at least one kick in every game so far in 2025. His position as the NFL’s most expensive placekicker doesn’t help the pressure, and his knee injury from a year ago brings up real concerns about a long-term issue.
Stud: (The decision to play) Brashard Smith
There were others with greater offensive impact, but it was heartening to see the Chiefs give so many opportunities to Brashard Smith on Sunday. Smith had 31 offensive yards by game’s end, and included a nice 34-yard kick return. Even more impressive was the way he bounced back from a dropped pass to start the game, showing some mental toughness early.
The ceiling is clear with the other backs on the roster, and the backfield lacks dynamism. So giving Smith as many touches as they can to see what he’s capable of doing was the right call against the Ravens.
Stud: JuJu Smith-Schuster
To be fair, there’s a reason Smith-Schuster goes overlooked in the Chiefs offense. There’s only so much time to talk about everyone, and there are bigger playmakers or more important weapons. That said, Smith-Schuster warrants a lengthy mention here for more than just the impressive catches he had against the Ravens.
Smith-Schuster finished the game with 4 catches for 36 yards and 1 touchdown, but he’s also the team’s best blocker at the position. That skill was seen on multiple positive gains against Baltimore, which shows why he remains so valuable to Andy Reid’s offense.
Stud: Tyquan Thornton
He’s not getting the reps he was getting when he was the only difference-maker available to the Chiefs on offense, but the trust was clearly established with Mahomes in those first three weeks. That’s why the Chiefs’ quarterback knew he could thread the needle to Thornton in the end zone for one of his touchdown passes on the day. Even with Worthy back, Thornton’s speed and chemistry is going to be a positive aspect for this offense all year.
Stud: Leo Chenal
While the whole defense had a strong day against the Ravens, Leo Chenal had a particularly memorable day. His most brilliant play came early in the game, on the Ravens’ second drive in which they were trying to build on an early 7-3 lead. The Chiefs dialed up the pressure on Lamar Jackson, who served up a desperate throw and Chenal somehow came down with his first interception.
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